The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, took part, on Septemeber, 03, 2024 in Beijing, in the Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

This Forum, which is celebrating its 24th anniversary this year, represents a key partnership between China and the African continent, based on the fundamental principles of solidarity, cooperation, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

This Ministerial Meeting was chaired by the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, and the Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yassine Fall, whose country holds the rotating co-chairmanship of FOCAC for the African continent.

The Chinese and African ministers reviewed and adopted the Beijing Declaration and Action Plan, with a view to their final adoption by the Heads of State and Government who are expected to attend the FOCAC Summit, scheduled from September 4 to 6 in China.

This meeting provided an opportunity for Bourita to engage with several of his counterparts and to explore ways and means to strengthen peace, stability, and development on the African continent through effective bilateral South-South cooperation, as well as through triangular cooperation with China within the framework of FOCAC, in accordance with the High Orientations of His Majesty The King, may God assist Him.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a US$ 2 million contribution from the Republic of Korea to support the Chadian Government’s emergency response for crisis-affected people in eastern Chad.

The funding will allow WFP to provide cash-based transfers to 56,000 Sudanese refugees and Chadian people worst affected by the multiple crises in eastern Chad. Cash assistance provides the people we serve with more flexibility to choose what to purchase from the local market. It also helps families meet their essential needs while stimulating the local economy. 

“We welcome the Republic of Korea’s funding, which is crucial for our lifesaving operations. It enhances our ability to strategically prioritize our efforts where and when the needs are greatest,” said Sarah Gordon-Gibson, WFP’s Country Director and Representative in Chad. “With people suffering from acute food insecurity and malnutrition, we must work hand in hand to support the government’s efforts.” 

Chad is experiencing the worst lean season on record and a nationwide food and nutrition emergency, with 3.4 million people currently suffering from acute hunger. 

The country is also facing another year of devastating floods which have already affected almost one million people, with 251,000 hectares of fields submerged, over 70,000 houses destroyed, and 29,000 heads of livestock swept away, according to Chadian authorities and partners, as of 25 August. 

With famine now confirmed in Sudan by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee, WFP is also expecting a rise in refugee numbers in eastern Chad in the next six months. This influx will add to the over 630,000 refugees and more than 201,000 returnees who have already sought refuge in Chad since the crisis began in 2023. 

To ensure continued support to crisis-affected people in Chad, WFP urgently requires US$ 97 million over the next six months. 

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

In a move aimed at safeguarding the rights of indigenous communities and addressing land ownership challenges in Uganda, Parliament has passed a resolution urging government to establish a National Customary Land Registry.

This initiative seeks to protect land under customary tenure from illegal land grabbing and prolonged conflicts.

The motion, presented during the House sittings at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu on Friday, 30 August 2024, was moved by Kilak North County MP, Hon. Anthony Akol.  It highlights the urgent need for a centralised system to manage and verify land ownership under customary tenure.

Akol stressed the importance of creating a centralised system for customary land registration.

“Our people deserve to have their land ownership recognised and protected. The absence of a national registry has left many communities vulnerable to land grabbing and conflicts that could have been avoided,” he stated.

AUDIO Akol

He said that the lack of a national framework for documenting customary land ownership has led to widespread legal uncertainties hindering development in many regions.

“The establishment of a National Customary Land Registry is long overdue. Our people have suffered for too long due to the absence of proper documentation. This registry will ensure that their land is not only recognised but also safeguarded against illegal encroachments,”  Akol added.

The motion is anchored on Article 237(3) of the Constitution which acknowledges customary land tenure alongside freehold, mailo and leasehold systems.

However, unlike the other tenure systems, customary land lacks a national registration system leaving it vulnerable to exploitation according to the mover of the motion.

Akol submitted that due to lack of this register, the sub-regions of Acholi, Lango, Teso, West Nile and Karamoja, which are predominantly under the customary land tenure system, face challenges of legal verification of land ownership and are prone to incidents of land grabbing and protracted conflict.

The proposed national registry will address the issues by providing a central location for the documentation and verification of customary land ownership.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

The Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Trade, and Industry has called for immediate investment in tourism infrastructure across key sites in Northern Uganda.

In their report presented during plenary sitting in Gulu City on Friday, 30 August 2024, the Committee Deputy Chairperson who doubles as the Northern Uganda Youth Representative, Hon. Boniface Okot highlighted that many of the sites like the Barlonyo Massacre Site in Lira District, Abok Massacre Site in Oyam District, and Sir Samuel Baker’s Fort in Gulu are in dire need of development to attract both domestic and international tourists.

“The state of infrastructure at these sites is concerning. Roads leading to the sites are almost impassable, and the lack of basic facilities such as electricity, water, and sanitation is a major deterrent to visitors,” Okot said.

One of the key recommendations of the report is the collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and other stakeholders to ensure that critical infrastructure is developed. This includes improving road networks and providing essential utilities at the sites.

The committee also underscored the importance of enhancing the visitor experience by introducing captivating features at the sites.

“For sites like the Barlonyo Massacre Site and Abok Massacre Site, the absence of graphic images and artefacts that depict the tragic events makes it difficult for visitors to connect with the history,” the report noted.

In addition to infrastructure development, the committee urged the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to expedite the process of collecting and documenting the rich verbal history associated with these sites.

 The report warns that the loss of individuals who possess this knowledge will be a significant blow to the preservation of Uganda’s cultural heritage.

“We cannot afford to lose this invaluable history. It is imperative that the ministry acts swiftly to document and preserve the stories and memories associated with these sites,” Okot added.

The committee’s findings also revealed a lack of legal ownership of land on which some of the tourist sites are situated posing a risk of third-party interests.

The report recommends that the ministry partners with relevant government institutions to expedite the processing of land titles to secure the sites for future generations.

The committee also emphasised that with the right investments, Northern Uganda’s tourism sector has the potential to significantly contribute to the country’s economic growth.

Following the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in Northern Uganda, several massacre places have been turned into memorials where relatives, friends, the community of the deceased go to honour those that were killed by the LRA. The LRA war that lasted for over two decades saw thousands killed and millions displaced.

Some of the other sites in Acholi include, Lukodi Memorial in Gulu and  Odek Massacre.

Oyam District Woman Representative, Hon. Santa Alum stated that at Barlonyo, the site is poorly managed with very poor roads and sanitation facilities.

“When you reach there, there are no pictures to depict what happened. The minister is here; I hope you have ever gone to the genocide memorial in Rwanda, we can start from there. There is no fence and people are vandalising the place,” she said.

AUDIO Magoola

Bugweri District Woman Representative, Hon. Rachel Magoola proposed that there should be an increase in focus on cultural tourism instead of concentrating on cultural sites.

“We tend to focus on sites and animals, but when you leave out the people, you have left out the main ingredient that makes tourism worth it,” she said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.